In the hot summer months, water and energy consumption can increase dramatically as businesses and individuals respond to the heat by applying more water to yards and landscapes. Hoses and sprinkler systems are opened up with the primary consideration given to the increase seen on the water bill. However, water as a number of interdependent relationships to consider.

As a sustainability consultant, we encourage clients and friends to consider the resulting impacts of all actions. In a recent post, The Water/Energy Link, we discuss how water and energy are intrinsically related; energy is needed to transport and deliver water while generating power requires massive quantities of water. There are opportunities to conserve both resources simultaneously. In fact, the U.S. EPA has quantified the water/ energy savings opportunity: equating 1 gallon of water to approximately 4 watt hours of power.